Riders of the Lost Arenales

There are references to it in the Internet. And a sole road sign point to it. But it is nowhere to be found.

Tero and I had spent the previous day at
Corralco, a commercially operated ski area in the volcanic Araucania region of Chile. But this morning we felt like taking a different turn on the road. So we took the road. And found nothing, after an hour of driving. Took another road. Searched the Internet again. Asked people in the village of Lonquimay for advice.

After some hours, with a handwaving for a general direction, waiting for the closed road to be cleared, putting on chains, we finally found it.
Los Arenales is no longer. The ski area has ceased operations in 2007. But the mountains are still there, the sun is shining on fresh new snow, and the ski lift towers are still standing.

And we are not alone. The Chilean military is also here, using these hills as their alpine practice ground. We put on skins and start heading up through the pretty Aracaurias forest.

Our goal is to reach the top of the highest lift. On the way we stop for a drink and a snack, and meet two two local kids from Lonquimay. They are walking up with their snowboards. Happy, energetic, and travelling light, they are headed towards the peak further up. We do not speak the same language, but all of us clearly enjoy the same mountain spirit.

We end up following the kids and finally reach the top about 400 meters higher than the base. By now enough time has passed that we need to head down before it gets dark. In the meantime, the energetic kids have of course done two rounds :-)

The peak is steep, but the slopes on the expired ski area are more mellow. The snow quality changes from ice and hard packed snow to soft powder - momentarily - and then to slush.

1.5K

The KORUA Shapes riders not only carve a turn like nobody's business, but man, don’t they look stylish? Their latest edit is a complete shredfest, and you can almost feel every turn they’re making. RELATED: Nick Russell Ventures into the Unknown in 'Range of Mystery' Volume Eight of Yearning for Turning was inspired by the feelings that bring us back to the slope year after year. Watch as Nicholas Wolken, Gabriele Torriani, Pepe Regazzi, Thomas Stöckli, Aaron Schwartz, Raphael Rocha and

1.1K

If there’s anyone who knows about being fully immersed in the mountains, it’s Jeremy Jones . The snowboarding maven, who’s bagged first descents from Nepal to the Sierra Nevada, cherishes any chance to disconnect from technology. For him, these moments of meditation are an opportunity to refresh while cultivating a deeper connection with the outdoors. RELATED: Far Out Now Available For Digital Download One of his favorite ways to go off the grid is through foot powered missions. For TGR’s

979

We at TGR love the mountains more than most, and in celebration of our big wins at both the 2018 Powder Awards last night and Surfer Awards last week we're out chasing pow! We truly are one big family, stretched all over the world, and we love nothing more than getting out into the mountains together, so that’s what we are doing today.
RELATED: Far Out Wins Movie of the Year, Best Post Production, Best Powder, and Photo of the Year Our latest annual ski and snowboard film
, is now